§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what real increases:in his Department's running costs are planned to occur in 1991 and 1991–92; what steps will be taken to ensure that the increases represent value for money; and if he will deposit a copy of the relevant management plan in the Library.
§ Mrs. RumboldAs announced in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 1011), DES running costs net of receipts are planned to be £78.985 million in 1990–91 and £89.192 million in 1991–92. The figure for the latter year includes provision of £5.9 million for the additional recurrent costs in 1991–92 of the Department's new London headquarters. Excluding this sum, the planned increase in real terms in the Department's running costs provision from 1990–91 to 1991–92 will be 1.9 per cent.
The Department is committed to achieving the maximum possible value for money from its running costs expenditure and has achieved significant increases in efficiency, for example from its investment in information technology. Future plans will concentrate on securing continuing improvements in value for money. It is not, however, our practice to publish internal management planning documents.